Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from Hope and Grace!

Our First Cereal

I don't think that I really need to introduce these videos of Grace and Hope's first cereal feeding:





Please excuse all of the crying. Our darling daughters, whether appearing hungry or not, upon smelling food enter panic mode, "Feed me, feed me NOW or I just might starve to death!" The girls did surprisingly well with the cereal, and I think that less than half of their feeding ended up on their face, so I'd consider that a definite success!

Frequently Asked Questions and Odd Comments From a Mother of Twins Point of View

Being out and about with the girls, we attract a lot of attention. Maybe it's the enormous stroller that I push around and try to get through doors, maybe it's just having a baby out in public, but just about every single person that I encounter has something to say. When the girls first came home, Will and I would walk them around the neighborhood, dying for someone to come over and gawk at our beautiful daughters. Now, it's a regular part of my life.

Here are some of the questions/comments that I get and my reaction (and sometimes the answer that I'd like to have).

The Top Three

1. "Are those twins?"

"Yes." No, they're not twins. I just have two small babies that are the same age. I thought I'd take on the neighbor's kid and buy this giant stroller and push them around this store and dress the child in a similar outfit to my own child's.

2. Is it a boy and a girl?

"No, two girls." How many parents do you really know who dress their sons in pink and put bows in their hair?

3. How old are they?

My answer: Ok, I lie here. I tell everyone that they are 3 months. Which they are, adjusted. Honestly, it's just easier then telling the truth. I tried telling the truth to exactly two strangers, and here's how it went:

Them: How old are they?

Me: Five months

Them: Oh, wow. They're so little (pause to stare at me for a reaction).

Me:Yes, they're little. They were preemies.

Them: Oh, how early were they?

Me: Three months.

Them: Oh my gosh! That's REALLY early!!!

Me: Yep.

Them: How big were they?

Me: About two pounds. (aargh)

Them: That's SO small! But, they look so healthy.

Me: Yes, they are... thanks...

Them: Look quizically at me, then proceed to tell story about their sister's friend's cousin's girlfriend who had two-pound preemies.

Me: Smile and nod and try to pay for purchase.

Two instances of this was plenty to get me to start telling their adjusted age. Obviously, when we run into people we know from school, church or our neighbors we tell the actual age, as most of them all know our story anyway. So unless someone really wants to hear about the trials and tribulations of having babies in the NICU for 75 days, I would really rather not discuss this.

Other Common Questions and Comments

"Wow! Twins! You must have your hands full."

"Indeed." You think? Would you like to come over and help me change diapers and do some laundry? No? How about grabbing the door for me so I can push this battering ram of a stroller out the two sets of doors?

"Do they cry at the same time?"

"Yes, often they do." Yes, it's a challenge.

"Wow! You're so brave to get out of the house."

"Yes, well, you can't stay in the house all day every day." Seriously, it's not about bravery, it's about sanity. I cannot just sit in the living room all day every day and watch television while feeding my babies.

Also on the bravery front, "You're so brave to have twins."
Um, I didn't really have a choice in the matter.

"Aren't you supposed to be home sleeping?"

Um... no...

Questions and Comments from Strangers (sometimes acquaintances) that Usually Get Only Baffled Looks

"Are you nursing? How do you do it? Do you feed both babies at the same time?"

This one I got from a complete stranger and it had motions to go along with the question... I don't understand why everyone wants to know about what my babies are eating.

"It must be nice being on vacation."

Seriously? By the way, it was a single guy who said this to me. Obviously.

"How was the childbirth? Did you have a c-section?"

WHY would a stranger want to know that?!?

A follow-up to the c-section question: "Do you have trouble with gas?"

Huh? What kind of question is that?

One of my personal favorites came when the girls were in the NICU: "Wow! Look at those girls, they're little, but fully formed."
Thank heavens that I didn't give birth to kids that were missing limbs or major body parts!

Then, there's the overwhelming amount of unsolicited advice. Sorry folks, I'm not sure that I want advice from a woman whose sons are running around Subway screaming and hitting each other.

Some days when I'm just not in the mood, I try not to make eye contact with people (this is usually pretty ineffective in stopping questions anyway). However, on the days when I've been sitting in the living room and had no contact with the outside world and feeling bored and lonely, this is a great way to get "insta-friends" out on the street. Truth be told, I love having the girls out and about and sometimes look for excuses to get them out of the house.

Silly Times & Brown Eyes

October is a time when many kids (large and small) get excited and silly thinking about Halloween. As fifth grade teachers, Jeni and I can see this in the students that we work with every day during this time of year. As new parents, there must be something about the crisp, cool, autumn breeze that brings out the inner-goofball in all of us (including Hope and Gracie).

The girls are becoming increasingly social and silly. In the picture to the left they are dressed in another Halloween outfit, with these onesies reading, "Mommy's Under My Spell." I think that sentiment can be applied to both Mommy and Daddy. Hope and Gracie have become increasingly vocal. Hope will carry on for up to a half hour at a time with her coos, goos, and babbles. Gracie, too, is getting more vocal, although her latest thing that she likes to do is roll over during tummy time. While both girls first did this back in June, it is becoming much more regular these days. The girls are also sitting in their "Bumbo Chairs" and lifting their heads up more.

Enjoy some fun family shots of our girls getting bigger.

Daddy enjoys hugging his girls after a long day at work.








Hope enjoys a game of peek-a-boo with Mommy as Gracie Girl watches on, mesmerized by the blanket







Contrary to popular belief, it was Mommy, not Daddy, who dressed Hope in the outfit to the left. Truth be told, Hope had a few too many spit ups, and with laundry in the dryer this was the best we could do. I couldn't help but showcase a baby "what-not-to-wear" moment, however, as I am often the one who has challenges matching the pants to the girls onesies.

Despite the outfit, one other thing in this picture stands out- and that is Hope's beautiful brown eyes. It looks like she has inherited some of her mommy's beautiful features, and one day will dance around at Badger games and Jimmy Buffett shows when "Brown Eyed Girl" is played!

Halloween is Coming

Gracie (left) and Hopester (right) are decked out in their Halloween sleepers. Enjoy the girls with the "pumpkins on their butts." As you can see- they keep getting bigger. Unofficially Hope is now 11 pounds and Grace 9 pounds.

Each day the girls continue to amaze us with their coos, squeals and overall jovial attitude towards life. When people say you learn a lot from your children, they aren't kidding. The simple pleasure of seeing the girls smile when I come into a room now is just about the most amazing thing I've ever experienced, and I've heard being a parent just gets better from here!

Good Morning Beautiful

Probably the highlight of my day these days is waking up and greeting my daughters. I always tell them how beautiful they are. Over the weekend I was able to shoot some video. Enjoy.

BREWERS WIN! And The Girls Celebrate

How fitting, in so many ways, that, on the last game of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers would defeat the Chicago Cubs to clinch their first post-season birth in 26 years. Being the die hard fan, this was clearly the most elctrifying sporting event I've attended (although the Packers/Carolina Panthers NFC Championship Game in 1996 came real close).

Being a Brewers Fan this year required a lot of patience and a lot of hope. For me, many an evening was spent with Hope and Grace curled up in my arms watching the games. This was great daddy time and a special way for us three to bond.

I was fortunate enough to be part of the celebration and discharged a cannon full of streamers. I videoed this below.

Perhaps the coolest thing about today for me, however, wasn't Braun's go ahead homer or CC's complete game masterpiece, but rather Jeni sending me a picture message on my phone of Hope holding up a sign reading, "Way to Go Brewers!"

Regardless of what happens from here on out, this season will go down as one chucked full of awesome memories,




View from the Upper Deck after I discharged a streamer cannon.













Grace (left) and Hope (right) say goodbye to Daddy before he heads to Miller Park for the game.








Me and my friend Keith with the giant streamer cannons

Hope and Grace have caught "Brewers Fever" from their Daddy.